Free Pattern Friday! - Christmas Edition! - Purl Bee Worsted Twist Lovely Ribbed Cowl

Ok guys!!! 

 

Just four days until Christmas!!!!

 

Eeeeek!

So here's one last quick Christmas gift idea!

 

Here's the Purl Bee Lovely Ribbed Cowl in their Worsted Twist yarn.

With US size 8 needles and big chunky yarn, this one should work quickly!

 

Happy Friday and Merry Christmas!

 

What are your plans for the holidays?

 

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Christmas Edition! - Jimmy Beans Wool Frosty Hat Pattern

12 days left 'til Christmas!!! 

 

Eeeeek!

 

So here's another quick Christmas gift pattern!

 

 

How cute is this Debbie Bliss Snowman set?!?!

 

2 balls of Debbie Bliss yarn, size 8 needles and 8 buttons!

 

This snowman alone would be a cute gift!

 

This Frosty Slouchy Hat pattern looks super simple and would work fast.

 

It's hard to think of wearing warm winter hats around here when it's supposed to be 79 degrees here in Southern California today!

 

But it is cute! 

How is the weather today where you are?

 

Happy Friday! 

Free Pattern Friday! - Christmas Gift Edition! -Laura's Loop: Color Tipped Scarf

Ok, people!  20 days until Christmas!!!

 

Eeek!  I can't believe it!

 

So I thought these next few Free Pattern Fridays would be Quick Gift-Focused!

 

:)

This here's the Laura's Loop Color Tipped Scarf from PurlBee (you know I love my PurlBee!).

With chunky yarn and size 8 needles, working garter stitch, this one should work quickly and easily!

 



I like the color blocking...

What colors would you choose?

 

Happy Friday!

 

:)

Free Pattern Friday!!! - Double Rainbow Pullover by Rena Varsakis

It's that time again!  Free Pattern Friday!

The weather has finally cooled off and I am so ready for sweater season!

This here's the Double Rainbow Pullover by Rena Varsakis. 

I love love love the use of all these colors!

What a happy sweater!

:)

Happy Friday!

What are you doing this weekend?

Free Pattern Friday! - Truckee Shawlette by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich

Happy Friday!!!

 

Ready for the weekend?

 

We are leaving tomorrow for the Bay Area so I have been ready since like two weeks ago when I found out we were going!  :)

 

I'm taking a break from my Christmas Sock-a-thon to start this Truckee Shawlette as a potential Christmas present for someone in the family (in case she is reading this right now!). 

:)

 

I found this one on the Jimmy Beans Wool site and fell in love with it immediately!

 

After reading the pattern, I really like that it's customizable!

The pattern is written more like a long scarf, but with a quick change of less increases,

it can become more of a shawl and less of a scarf!

 

 

And you know I love my stripes!

 

 

 

 

Depending on how quickly this one goes, I may make a few for the gals in the family

(and then one for me, of course!)

 

I love these Teal and Earth Tone colors... like rocks and pebbles in a river.

 

What colors would you use?

 

Happy Labor Day weekend!

:)

 

Free Pattern Friday! - Marche by Berroco

It's Free Pattern Friday again!

 

This here's the Marche sweater cardigan by Berroco.

 

 

I'm sorry this picture is not bigger. 

It's the biggest clearest one I could find!

Anyway, it's still a billion degrees here in Southern California so something like this with short cap sleeves is perfect for a nice evening down by the beach!

 

The thing I liked the most about this was seeing all the different ways

people made it their own on Ravelry!

 

Some made it with long sleeves... some with no sleeves!

 

Would you change anything about it?

 

Happy Friday!

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Groove by Stephen West

Yay!  It's that time again!  Free Pattern Friday!

I know... I know... "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!"

I dunno where I've been.  Actually, I've been tired and lazy lately.  And I haven't felt like blogging much.  Just about the only thing I really feel like doing is knitting!  It seems to be the only thing that gets me through.  :)

Ok!  Stephen West!

So, I bought my Stephen West Daybreak shawl pattern (along with 2 skeins of gorgeous yarn), um let's see... TWO years ago at the LA Yarn Crawl (at Wildfiber in Santa Monica!) and have yet to finish it.

But every time I see Daybreak in photos or on someone's blog, I remember that I definitely need to revisit and FINISH it!  It's fabulous.  And you know I love my stripes!

So, in the meantime, here's a fun FREE pattern from Stephen West.  This pattern can be found on his site and on Knitty as well!

And you know I love my buttons, too!

:)

Groove by Stephen West

What colors would you use?

I'd do a gorgeous Orange and a soft tan.

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Holey Square Shawl by Marianne Sigg

Happy Friday!!!

 

One week into summer and it's been a billion degrees here this week in Southern California!

 

I was trying to find a fun Summer Pattern and came across this Holey Square Shawl which I loved immediately and can't stop thinking about!

It could be the gorgeous cool orange yarn color (Handmaiden Lino in Vermillion)

or all these fun holes!

 

I'm dying to try this pattern if only to figure out how she did that!

 

This shawl is perfect for cool nights down by the beach and like a lot of other Ravelers,

I'd also make this one wider!

 

Happy Friday!

 

What are your plans for this weekend?

 

I have a feeling we'll be at the beach all weekend!

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Father's Day Edition!

Happy Friday!!!

Can you believe this weekend is Father's Day Weekend?!

 

How cute are these little guys!!!

 

These are the Steak Rub Recipe and Crochet Moustache Father's Day ideas from Yarnovations!

 

A recipe AND a pattern!

 

Perfect!

 

Ok...

 

Now you know I don't LOVE the crochet...

 

but these are sooooo cute!

And if I had to, I'd bust 'em out.

 

:)

Every year, El Hub participates in Movember and since he started doing so, a few years back, I've come to love the moustache!

 

I even have my Mr. Kate moustache necklace and I wear it daily!

 

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

What are your plans for the weekend?

 



Free Pattern Friday! - PurlBee Whit's Knits: Sporty Striped Peds!

Well, I have been a crazy knitting lady lately!!!

 

I'm trying to power through my existing stash and have been knitting faster than I can blog!

 

So I've decided to kill two birds with one stone...

 

with today's Free Pattern Friday!

 

These are the PurlBee Whit's Knits: Sporty Striped Peds!

And here are mine!

Pattern: PurlBee Whit's Knits: Sporty Striped Peds

Yarn: Spud and Chloe Fine (in # 7810 Lipstick)

Needles: Size One (1) double pointed needles (based on my crazy loose gauge)

Mods: none

 

 

These are for a good friend of mine (who's birthday was last month!) and I thought these would be perfect for her because...

 

she is a makeup artist up in L.A. and this yarn is the

Spud and Chloe Fine in # 7810 Lipstick!!!!

 

You should see this color in person...

It is GORGEOUS!

 

Pictures do not do it justice (though I tried!).

 



I really like the Spud and Chloe yarns.  I was thinking about it and I realized that I like them because...

 

while they may not have a lot of yarn options, the three options they offer are very well done.

 

These can be machine washed and thrown in the dryer to dry.

The yarn doesn't twist while on the needle and it doesn't have any breaks or knots in it!

 

It's a sturdy yarn that's still soft in the hands!

 

And I think it's fairly priced.

These two socks (this pair) came from one skein and I still have a quite a bit of yarn left over!



 

This pattern is incredibly easy and well written (as most of the PurlBee patterns are!).

 

I finished these two socks in about a day and a half!

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

And Happy Birthday Sho!

 

:)



Free Pattern Friday! - Memorial Day Edition!

Happy Friday and Happy Memorial Day!

 

I love that this marks the beginning of summer and I am so ready for it!

 

This got me thinking about going to the beach and I thought this cute Medano Beach bag by Heidi Kirrmaier would make a great beach accessory!

 

Cute, huh?

 

You know I love my stripes! 

:)

 



 

What are your plans for this weekend?

 

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Burly Spun Grey Owl Cowl by Juju Vail (Loop London)

Happy Friday!

 

I can't believe how fast this week went by!

 

I seriously thought today was Wednesday!

 

:)

Anyway...

 

This here's the Burly Spun Grey Owl Cowl by Juju Vail of Loop London.

Isn't it so cute?

You know I love my cables!

I came across this blog (and site) through the old Facebook...

 

and I'm excited to have a new knitting blog to follow!

 



Happy Friday!

What are your plans for this weekend?

 

:)





Free Pattern Friday! - Mother's Day Edition!

Happy Friday and Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

 

Here are two cute Mother's Day inspired patterns.

 

This one is the "Mother's Day Vest" by Rosemary Drysdale.

 

(You can also find it at the Tahki Yarns site here!)

 

It's cute, isn't it?  Seems like it would work fast.



And how cute is this little "Winged Heart Tattoo" by annypurls!

(Check out some of her other cute patterns too here!)

 



I love that the heart has wings!!!

 

:)

What are you doing for Mother's Day?

 

El Hub and Peanut are taking me to L.A. for an LA day tomorrow...

 

and then they are making me breakfast on Sunday!

 

I am a lucky girl!

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Whit's Knits: Beautiful Spring Scarf

I have been totally obsessed with Pink and Grey (and Pink and Black, too!) as a color combo!

So when I saw this post on the ol' PurlBee blog,

I knew this would be my next Free Pattern Friday!

 

This is the Beautiful Spring Scarf by Whitney.

 

It seems easy enough and I love how a quick pop of color can really bring life to a simple accessory!

 



 

Happy Friday!

Free Pattern Friday! - Driftwood Henley Sweater

Happy Friday!!!

 

Free Pattern Friday!!!

 

This here is the Driftwood Henley Sweater.

 

This is a nice way to end the weird week!

 

:)

 

I came across this pattern from Compatto Yarn Salon in Santa Monica.

 

My MIL and I first went to Compatto last year during the 2012 Yarn Crawl and

we loved this little shop!

 

Everyone in there was so nice AND they had a lot of beautiful yarns and patterns!

The thing we've come to love most about this shop is their weekly email newsletter!

They have the most informative and well-organized newsletter that I receive!

 

:)

I wish this shop were closer to me (or me to it) 'cause I would go to it frequently!

 



Compatto is doing a KAL for this sweater and here is their blurb:

 

Summer is coming, but there's still always a cool breeze off the ocean. Knit up in Rowan Handknit Cotton or Revive, this is a perfect layer for a morning or evening walk.  Or you could make it a bit warmer in Tosh Vintage or Jade Sapphire 4-ply. Driftwood is knit from the top down with contiguous set-in sleeves which are then knit in the round-so no seams!  You also get to try it on as you go to customize the body and sleeve lengths. It's safe enough for a first-time sweater knitter, but there's still plenty of interest for an experienced garment maker.  Fun in stripes or classic in a single hand-dyed, you can't go wrong with all the choices you have! Join Mary Beth on Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22, & 29 from 2pm- 4pm. $95 plus materials.

I like that you can make this sweater light or a bit warmer depending on which yarn you choose!

And you know I love my stripes!

:)

Happy Friday!

Free Pattern Friday! - Frolicking Shamrocks Wristlets

Happy St. Patty's Day this weekend, guys!

These are the Frolicking Shamrocks Wristlets by 

HeartStrings Fiber Arts (Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer)!

They're cute, aren't they?!

I've not worked with beads/beading before... 

Have you?

These seem easy enough and I always like a good weekend-project. 

I also like a pattern that fits nicely on one page!

:)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Free Pattern Friday! - Devin Cole Bunny Gloves!

Well...

We are three months into the new year and
I just realized that I've only done ONE Free Pattern Friday!!!

So to restart our FPF, and since there are 22 days left 'til Easter... 

Here are these cute Bunny Gloves by Devin Cole!

I came across Devon's pattern and blog via the Lion Blog, which is in my constant blog rotation.

:)

I have been thinking ahead to Christmas presents and I seem to keep coming back to gloves... 

And it's freezing and pouring rain here today (well... freezing for California anyway) and so all things seem to point to gloves!

I'd like to start with these!

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - Bernat Satin Monster For Your Love

And my little guys are done...

These two are leaving tomorrow for Ohio and I'll be sad to see them go!

These are for the 600 Monsters Strong group that:

"...started (but that grew beyond) with a one goal: knitting and crocheting 600 stuffed toys for the children impacted by the December 14th, 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary."

And I hope they will bring some peace and comfort to someone who can truly use it. 

It's been just less than one month since that terrible tragedy and I still get so down about it. 

So...

I'll change the subject and tell you about the pattern!

This pattern is free on the Bernat site but you have to create an account (which is ok).  :)

There is also a dedicated Ravelry page for the Monster for Your Love.

I used the Bernat Satin in a super light pink and a plummy color because 

the selection was SUPER LIMITED at my local Joann's... 

I was really hoping to go gender-neutral but hopefully some little one 

will love these colors and these little guys. 

This pattern could not be easier and it works so fast!

I used the size 6 double-pointed needles and it works from top-down.

Cast on a couple of stitches and make them grow!

I have short size 6 double-pointed's so I ended up using all five needles (instead of 4 like pattern calls for). 

I started with this pink one and made it exactly as pattern called for (creating the body, up to leg, then stuffing, then making arms...)

But I was bummed that there were little spaces between the legs and arms to body 

(which I stitched up after stuffing it). 

So when it came time to make the purple one, 

I made the entire body first, except for one arm, then stuffed it and then finished the arm.

I dunno that it was any better because I still had to stitch up an opening between the legs. 

But I was happier with the arms. 

:)

I was really nervous about the faces because I really wanted them to be cute, happy faces!

I know the group ok'd "safety eyes" but I didn't want to go that route. 

I wanted it to be all truly handmade. 

Well, thank God mom came over as she does know all and helped me with how to do back-stitch.

Now, I know it's not perfect...

But these faces are so much better than what I had originally done!

This pattern really is easy and it works so fast. 

I'd say total time, from start to finish, was about 2 or 3 days...

I'm glad I did this and it's been fun to see all the monsters on the 600 Monsters Ravelry page.

Check them out, if you can.

Bye, little guys!

Have a safe trip!

:)

Free Pattern Friday! - French Nautical Scarf by The Knit Cafe Toronto

Do you ever get a bug in your head about something and then it's ALL you can think about for the next week or so?

 

Well, that is me this week with all things French...

It started off earlier in the week, when I was listening to the Amelie soundtrack while making dinner (which I do often)...

Then, while flipping through mom's new issue of Knitscene, I saw an add for the Tartine hat from the French Girl Knits Accessories pattern book and that got me thinking about stripes!

UGH!

Does anyone else's brain work like this?

Anyway, fortunately, it led me to this wonderful Free Pattern!!!

This is the French Nautical Scarf by The Knit Cafe Toronto

(doesn't it seem like a lot of wonderful knit/knitters come out of Toronto?)...

 

After I finish my Christmas Sock-o-Rama, I'll for sure be making this for myself!

 

(though, the idea of sock yarn and size 2 needles DOES NOT please me at all...)

 

But I guess I want it bad enough 'cause I'll do it!

 

In the meantime, check out these other pretty color combos...

 



sdrawkcabemdaer5's Spring Scarf

Mermaidtricks Subtle Ravenclaw Nautical Scarf

Free Pattern Friday! - Fall Pumpkin by Sarah Hawkins

I'm making test pies today since I am in charge of Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie for this year's Thankgsiving and thought pumpkins would be perfect for today's Free Pattern Friday!

 

These little guys are from Sarah Hawkin's Fall Pumpkin pattern on her Ravelry and Blog.

 

They seem easy enough and they're so cute!

 

 

Look at these from Ravelry-er Pekoe Soup...

 



So cute!!!

 

I am so ready for Fall...

Our weather here (in So Cal) has been so off an on. 

 

Yesterday it rained (which I've now come to love), today and tomorrow it'll be cold,

but Sunday we're back to gorgeous!

It's hard to be movtivated to make Fall Crock Pot foods when it's 80 degrees out!

 

Is it Fall weather where you are?

 

:)